Gregor Gysi on the First Round of the Presidential Elections in France

Gregor Gysi on the First Round of the Presidential Elections in France

24 April 2017

The first round of the presidential elections in France has taken place. As it was feared, right wing populist Le Pen will be able to compete in the second round as well. Her opposite, Emmanuel Macron, is not only a conservative but a neoliberal as well. He will expedite cuts in social services. This development needs to be stopped for the whole of Europe to overcome the dangers for the existence of the EU. Nonetheless: Mrs Le Pen may under no circumstances become President of France.

The left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon gained outstanding results. We warmly congratulate him and all his helpers. He was unyielding towards neoliberalism and right wing extremism. His campaign reached millions of French people, especially the youth. Central to the campaign were pressing issues such as greater social justice, a perspective for the youth and the urgently needed new start of the European Union. With his campaign he not only reached many French but thus sent a signal for revival to the European left. We need to become the adversary of the growing political right, neoliberalism and the planned capability for military interventions of the EU.

Building on the success of Jean-Luc Mélenchon the French left will play a major role during parliamentary elections. We will support them.